Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati says that they will request for a budget for a referendum from the National Treasury.
Speaking on Thursday after receiving 4.4 million signatures endorsing the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), Chebukati revealed that the electoral agency already has a referendum committee that will undertake the exercise of signature verification.
As a commission our work starts here. After receiving the signatures plus their soft copies [which will make our work of verification easier] we shall proceed and request for a budget,” said Chebukati.
After IEBC finishes on signature verification and is satisfied that the initiative meets the requirement, the commission shall submit the draft bill (Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill, 2020) to each of the 47 county assemblies for consideration within three months.
Some of the 4.4 million BBI signatures presented to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. PHOTO/TV47
Process of referendum
After approval in county assemblies, the speakers shall then send a copy of the draft Bill, and a certificate that the assembly has approved it, to National Assembly and Senate Speakers.
If approved by a majority of the county assemblies, IEBC shall formulate the referendum question before conducting the referendum.
Proposers of BBI are projecting that the country may hold the referendum in June, 2021.
